THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP.
THE SHEPHERD AND THE SHEEP.
The twenty third Psalm could be said to be the most popular Psalm in the whole bible. I learnt it by heart in my native Yoruba language as a child. For me, that had more depth of meaning as I have begun to see increasingly now, with other scriptures when I read them in Yoruba.
Recently I have been meditating on Psalm 23 and this led me to a documentary about shepherds. I learnt a few things.
The most important thing for me is that there must be a relationship between a shepherd and every single one of his sheep, regardless of how many they are. This relationship cannot be casual or on the surface; it must be one of deep intimacy, dependence and trust. You see, sheep are extremely vulnerable. They are meek, they are easily frightened and have very little ability to defend themselves against predators. Their first instinct in the face of danger is to flee rather than stay and fight unlike most other animals. This makes it imperative for them to be led by a shepherd. If isolated or left on their own, they will become prey to all kinds of conditions. Besides being mauled to death by wolves or other wild animals, they could easily become affected by diseases that would ultimately lead to their death.
A shepherd cannot be just anyone and not just anyone can be a shepherd. The responsibilities of a shepherd require that they must be caring, compassionate, kind, patient and selfless, to mention a few character traits. This is the person that must shepherd the sheep; otherwise they are doomed to a life of wandering aimlessly to death.
“But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep. The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep. John 10: 12-13 KJV
A shepherd risks all for the sheep. The hireling flees at the slightest trace of danger.
The bible says this of sheep without shepherds: “So they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild animals.” Ezekiel 34:5 NIV
“When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd.” Matthew 9:36 NIV
Without a shepherd, it is difficult for the sheep to survive. The shepherd has to guide, guard and lead the sheep. Even the basic need of food and water cannot be accessed without direction. Their very sustenance depends on the shepherd. In a nutshell the sheep is just waiting to perish without a shepherd.
“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.” Psalm 23:1 KJV The above scripture which is well known, is written by David, a shepherd himself. But he acknowledges that there is a greater shepherd; and that is the LORD. David knows what it is to be a shepherd and a very responsible one at that. He protected the sheep in his charge when predators like a lion and even a bear dared to come close to them. “But David said to Saul, “Your servant has been keeping his father’s sheep. When a lion or a bear came and carried off a sheep from the flock, I went after it, struck it and rescued the sheep from its mouth. When it turned on me, I seized it by its hair, struck it and killed it.” 1 Samuel 17: 33-35 NIV
What a shepherd! What a lad! He risked his own life for his father’s sheep. David was able to draw a parallel between himself and the Good Shepherd. And he was absolutely confident that if he a mere shepherd could do what he did to protect the sheep, then surely the LORD, the Good Shepherd, would do much more to protect him. His confidence was unwavering. And as such he marched out to the battle knowing that the way the battle was never between his sheep and the lion or the bear, the battle would not be between him and Goliath. The battle was the LORD’S.
Dear friends, The LORD is our Shepherd.
He could be likened to those shepherds talked about above. But He is actually so much more. He gave His life for us. We must recognise this. And that relationship with Him must be built on trust. We must learn to depend completely on Him to direct us, guard and guide us , lead us, protect us and provide for us. See what David said about Him: “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.” Psalm 23:2-3 NIV
We must let the LORD lead us in all our endeavours. He does this by the gentle witness of the Holy Spirit: [“And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws.” Ezekiel 36:27 NIV] and also by filling our hearts with peace. [“For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace.” Isaiah 55:12a NIV].
For us to declare that the LORD is truly our Shepherd, we must intentionally let Him lead us. If we keep ignoring the gentle witness or pretend that we are not hearing Him direct us then we are setting ourselves up for a future of all kinds of calamity.
THE LORD IS OUR SHEPHERD.
LET HIM LEAD US, ALWAYS.
OLUYINKA EGO-MARTINS ©